The 5 Best New Milwaukee Power Tools

Last month, Milwaukee held its annual product launch event, unveiling the company's new power tools and job-site equipment. Popular Mechanics was on the scene in Brookfield, Wisc., keeping an eye out for all of the real groundbreakers. Here's a look at the five items that caught our attention.

M12 Thermal Imager ($1200)

M12 Thermal Imager ($1200)

Given the rapid development of its test and measurement tools, it was only a matter of time before Milwaukee hit the scene with this one.

The tool senses temperature differences and displays them on a screen, letting you see the world as though you were the Predator. The Milwaukee imager has a temperature range of 14 to 662 degrees Fahrenheit and a built-in camera. Best of all, when you pull the trigger, the imager simultaneously takes two pictures-a thermal image and a regular image-so when it comes time to review the data, it's easy to see what you're looking at. Images are saved as JPEGs and can easily be downloaded to a computer. According to Milwaukee, it's also durable enough to withstand a 6-foot drop.

The thermal imager is costly, but it has the potential to save a homeowner a lot of money in the long run: One use of its thermal imaging could be to spot insulation gaps and other areas in a home where heat might escape.

M12 1/4" Ratchet ($159)

M12 1/4" Ratchet ($159)

Controlling and operating a ratchet deep down in an engine block is a task that should be classified somewhere between nearly impossible and totally impossible. But with the new 1/4-inch M12 Ratchet (also available in 3/8) you need room for only your hand and the tool. It has the forward/reverse switch just like any normal ratchet, but it's powered by a rechargeable battery at the base of the handle. We thought it was light and easy to control; the 30 lb-ft of torque is enough to get most jobs done. And the ratchet can be used manually as well.